Brad Flegel, Jarrett Flegel, Murray Flegel, Kien Luong, Gray Savage and Steve Jakubec.
Celebrates 25-Year Legacy by Rennay Craats
BOSS Lubricants | 25 Years 69
BOSS Fleet at the Calgary Facility.
M
uch has changed in the 25 years since Murray Flegel opened the doors of BOSS Lubricants. The company has grown, expanded, and established itself as one of Canada’s largest independent lubricant manufacturer and wholesale supplier of premium engine and transmission lubricants, natural gas compressor oils, greases, and glycols. With coverage from coast to coast and an impressive head office and manufacturing facility in Calgary, BOSS is proud of its Canadian roots. BOSS was and remains 100-percent Canadian owned with products that are developed for the challenging Canadian climate. Back in 1992 it was a true family team effort. Murray’s wife, Arlene, did the bookkeeping and invoicing while Murray took care of the sales and operations. Murray’s knowledge in the lubricants industry was obtained while spending more than 20 years with Texaco and Turbo after his professional hockey career came to an end. While getting their education and business degrees, sons Brad and Jarrett worked part time to help their dad out. “I worked my way up through the company doing pretty much every job except accounting, working for $5.70 an hour,” says Jarrett Flegel, current president and COO of BOSS Lubricants. In 1996, Murray brought in a silent partner, Bill Dickson, whose business expertise and vast knowledge helped guide the company to the size and success it enjoys today. Since Bill’s passing, the company has dedicated the “Make it Happen” award to a recipient within the company that demonstrates Bill’s passion for a “Can Do Attitude.” “As the company grew, so did our workforce and delivery fleet which offers industry leading service,” says Murray Flegel, founder and CEO of BOSS Lubricants. In 1999, Jarrett graduated from Mount Royal College with a Small Business and Entrepreneurship degree and extended his education years later attending Queen’s University’s Executive MBA program. He was also the first Canadian president of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA). Older brother Brad graduated in 1993 from University of Calgary with a Commerce degree and went into the oil and gas industry, holding various positions with companies like Barrington Petroleum, AEC, ENCANA, and Niska Gas Storage. Brad is currently the Vice President of Properties & Logistics at BOSS.
2 | 25 Years | BOSS Lubricants
We have been using BOSS Lubricants products for 10 years. We are very pleased with the professional friendly staff. The availability of technical information is very quick and the delivery service is very valuable to our company. We have had great success with the engine oil and hydraulics in our Canadian climate and we are always being supplied the right product for our situation. Since using the BOSS products we have had no failures in engines or hydraulic pumps. ~ Peter Martens, Greg Penner Construction Ltd.
BOSS’ first taste of expansion came in 1996 when BOSS acquired Service Station Supply in Red Deer, which is where they met current 20-year employee Kien Luong. On a daily basis, Kien co-ordinates shipments to and from clients and suppliers, ensuring adequate amounts of materials are on hand for in-house blends, pricing, purchases, and order on all products. He also reviews the results of quality control testing and identifies and troubleshoots areas where BOSS can save costs and improve operating efficiencies while ensuring that the integrity of BOSS Lubricants product line is maintained. Over the years and through ongoing customer growth and other opportunities, BOSS has been strategically positioned in Surrey, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Saskatoon, Regina, Brandon and Toronto. BOSS’ diverse product offerings and service area coverage has been able to overcome challenging economic times. Today, BOSS services over 4,500 customers across Canada and supports over 150 distributors and has recently expanded its exporting position internationally. With service being at the forefront of BOSS’ business model, BOSS boasts one of the largest internal delivery fleets in Canada and is provided with dedicated shipments from its partly-owned highway tractor and trailer company BOSS Hauling. Operated by the Linn family, BOSS Hauling has successfully delivered product on the same and/or next day to BOSS Lubricant facilities since 1998. In 2006, Gray Savage was brought in as vice president of finance to oversee the development of the company’s financial position and to ensure BOSS’ ability to facilitate expansion. Gray in his 10 years with BOSS says, “I have had a lot of fun along the way!”
Congratulations to BOSS Lubricants! CONTRACT BLENDING & PACKAGING • 200,000+ gal/day capacity with full range of technologies & blender sizes PRIVATE LABEL MANUFACTURING • 5 Small Packaging fill lines 500–3,750 bph (1QT, 4 QT, 5 QT or 1 Liter, 4 Liters, 5 Liters) • 6 Large Packaging fill lines 60–120 dph ( 5 Gal, 16 Gal, 55 Gal or 18 Liters, 25 Liters, 80 Liters, 208 Liters)
STORAGE & TERMINAL SERVICES • 1 Million+ gal above-ground tanks in varied sizes; 2 rail spurs, daily switches, 3 providers We provide 20 years of expertise. Additives & base oils from leading suppliers. Full technical lab & QC to meet API, ACEA, JASO & most OEM requirements. Flexibility to speed your product to market. And efficient production to keep your prices competitive. Please contact us to discuss what you need from your production partner. www.amtecol.com Richmond, CA 510.235.7979 info@amtecol.com
BOSS Lubricants | 25 Years | 3
Tank Farm in the Calgary Facility.
Also lending strength to the company is Steve Jakubec, general manager and controller, whose initial focus when brought on board in 2008 was to upgrade systems and standardize processes throughout the company. Steve works closely with the sales team in achieving operational goals. “We have implemented a custom system that is tailored to our unique manufacturing process, allowing BOSS to better control costs and operational efficiencies to better serve our customers,” Steve says. The company moved into its location on 30 Street SE in 1996 with 26 tanks. Today, BOSS has over 99 tanks ranging in various sizes from 8,000 litres to 100,000 litres. Raw materials are pumped in, blended, tested, packaged and distributed from this facility. It produces everything from gas engine oils, diesel engine oils, gear oils, tractor fluids, grease, environmental products, transmission fluids, hydraulic oils, and synthetics. BOSS Lubricants’ Edmonton facility handles all anti-freeze and heat transfer fluid blending, packaging, terminalling, and storage. By keeping tanks out of Calgary’s extreme elements and in a more controlled environment, BOSS can manufacture a higher quality product. “Water or condensation is the evil enemy of lubricant so we ensure we don’t have any outside elements in our manufacturing processes,” says Jarrett. Two years ago BOSS purchased the Calgary head office and warehouse facility, which now sprawls 80,000 square feet. It has expanded to include five blending tanks capable of blending 10 million gallons of product each year, with the ability to increase output if required. BOSS can
4 | 25 Years | BOSS Lubricants
BOSS Lubricants has been a great partner to Bounty Onsite Inc / Bumper To Bumper. Canadian owned and operated allows them to adapt to Canadian climates and our ever changing conditions. They have shown a willingness to help us grow our business in many areas. They are willing to walk through doors with you to help gain an advantage over competitors. The product quality speaks for itself. ~ Bob Hamilton, Manager, Bounty Onsite Inc. Bumper to Bumper fill tank trucks, drums and totes. The company has invested in some leading edge technology to fill 1 litre, 5 litre, and 20 litre pails. Quality is an essential core value for BOSS, and the company’s commitment to this is reflected by their “No Non-Sense Warranty.” “We take pride in our specs and our quality. We lab test everything before it goes to market,” Murray says. Products are sent to an independent facility for testing to ensure they meet or exceed OEM specifications before BOSS will put their label on it. The company has worked hard to earn its reputation for quality and strives hard every day to maintain it in every product produced. There are more than 200 industrial oils and lubricants in BOSS’ repertoire that cover a vast spectrum of requirements for a variety of industries. BOSS is proud to be able to meet the
BOSS Lubricants | 25 Years | 5
MAG 1 OILS, LUBRICANTS, AND CHEMICALS The MAG 1 family of products was created to be a high quality, full line offering that would be flexible enough to fulfill the demanding requirements, conditions and tests of multiple markets and equipment manufacturers. MAG 1 products can be found in many retail locations, service bays, bulk suppliers and distributor warehouses around the globe. Our desire to continually improve our products and manufacturing processes keeps MAG 1 performance levels consistent across all categories. This strategy keeps our quality levels high and our production costs low. MAG 1 lubricants are built using Superior Chemistry to achieve Superior Performance in the market place. We use the highest quality base stocks and advanced additive systems. Our API licensed fluids meet or exceed all testing, ensuring long term performance you can count on. MAG 1 products offer advanced technology and protection to help consumers and industry drive forward around the world. Thank you for selecting MAG1 products! We sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help you ignite performance and protect engines, vehicles and equipment.
Quality Means Doing it Right When No One Is Looking. Fleet/ATF/Gear Oils
Fueled by excellence. Formulated to excel. Motor oils.
bosslubricants.com DISTRIBUTED BY/DISTRIBUÉ PAR : BOSS LUBRICANTS
6-0000
30 MONTH WARRANTY
Manufactured And Blended To the Highest Industry Standards. Hydraulic/Industrial/Agricultural Fluids
Superior Chemistry. Superior Performance. Greases/Specialty prodcucts
Consistent High Quality Products Ensures Repeatable Performance. Chemicals/Power Steering Fluids/ Brake Fluids/Small Engine Aerosols
BOSS Lubricants is the exclusive distributor of Mag1 in Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia)
needs of its diverse retail, industrial and commercial clientele. In order to better serve these valued customers, BOSS introduced a secondary line of products. “We’re always looking to expand our product lines to meet customer demands based on industry trends,” says Steve. BOSS has recently become the exclusive Western Canadian distributor for Mag 1 products, which features aerosol glass cleaners, brake cleaners, and leisure products. This makes it more convenient for BOSS customers to get everything they need from one location while complementing BOSS’ already extensive product line. Under this one-stop shop strategy, the company recently launched a full line of batteries called BOSS Power. Customers needing batteries for everything from large highway trucks to jet skis can get them at BOSS. Customers’ needs come first at BOSS. In order to be more competitive, BOSS bought the six-car rail spur behind the facility for easy access to raw materials. This strategy has given BOSS an economic advantage. Competitors may bring in one trailer per week of materials by road while BOSS is bringing in four to seven railcars per week. Some of the tanks can hold an entire railcar worth of product, so it can order in bulk and pass the savings along to customers. “It’s important for our customers to get that value discount as a result of our buying power,” says Jarrett. BOSS stands for Bulk Oil Sales and Service, and it is that second “S” that really sets the company apart from the competition. Despite the size of BOSS’ client base, it still uses the small family business approach. Part of the culture at BOSS is the expectation that its employees answer the phones within three rings rather than having a call centre or patching callers through to automated directories. BOSS cares about customers and their needs, and this is just one way to show it. Account representatives go see clients in person to build and foster business relationships. They want to show existing and potential clients the value of the BOSS brand and how the best quality doesn’t always cost the most. “As a small business there’s a misconception of our ability and capabilities,” says Jarrett. “We can do what the big boys do – we don’t have the branding or the billboard signs or fancy marketing, but we offer exceptional service and support, all the while offering a quality product at a very competitive price.” Sometimes it is difficult to switch away from a major branded product, so management encourages clients to test out the product or perform an oil analysis if they are not convinced—and with the best warranty in the business, what’s the risk? Once customers give the products a chance, they are glad they did. BOSS works hard to earn its clients’ business and works even harder on keeping it. “We prove to them day in and day out that they made the right decision,” says Steve. BOSS, on average services 150 customers per day. In fact, many customers have been with Murray and BOSS since it started 25 years ago. Management is proud to have long-term customers. That dedication comes from the top down at BOSS. Management fosters and perpetuates an environment that encourages teamwork and accountability. The culture at the office is one of family. The Flegels value their employees and enjoy getting to know them during office hours and outside of work. Through staff barbeques, parties, lunches and family events, as well as friendly conversations and greetings throughout the workday, management lets employees know they are important and cared for. In return, the staff is loyal to BOSS and is invested in its success.
8 | 25 Years | BOSS Lubricants
Thermo King Western (Calgary) Inc has been using BOSS Lubricants for the past five years and acknowledges that our experience has been excellent overall. Our BOSS Lubricants Industrial Account Representative has responded timely to our needs and addressed any and all concerns quickly and effectively. We would recommend BOSS Lubricants to anyone looking for a quality lubricant, quick service and great customer support. Dan Lafaut, Parts Manager, Themo King Western (Calgary) Inc. “This year alone I have six ten-year watches to award and five five-year plaques,” says Murray. “Some others have been with us for 15 and 20 years too. The tendency is for employees to stay long-term. We’re really proud of that.” BOSS is also proud of its commitment to lessening the company’s environmental footprint. The Regina location has a drum reconditioning plant and the Saskatoon location operates a tote reconditioning plant. The company gives back to causes that are important to BOSS as well as its customers. Murray was the president of The Rotary Club of Calgary South in 2015/16 and supports many of its charity events. BOSS also supports Youth Unlimited and The Motive Action Foundation, which help provide youth and adults to gain access to fundamental work and life skills. The company also donates oil to local community initiatives and charities. Each year employees across the country volunteer time at The Food Banks and support various charities including many Cancer Foundations, The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Aga Khan Foundation.
Congratulations BOSS Lubricants on your 25th anniversary! Wishing you much success in the coming years. We look forward to continuing our relationship as both our companies grow. All the best from Gerry and the Wood Automotive Group team.
11580 24 St SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3K1 Phone: (403) 253-2211 • woodauto.ca
BOSS Lubricants | 25 Years | 9
Jarrett Flegel, Murray Flegel and Brad Flegel.
“We are proud to support our communities and actively participate in charitable causes and events” says Jarrett. BOSS management and staff are enormous sports fans, and the company supports sports teams from four-year-old Timbit hockey players and adult recreation teams all the way to professional local sports teams.
Battenfeld Battenfeld Grease (Canada) Ltd. 68 Titan Road Toronto, Canada M8Z2J8 (416) 239-1548 battenfeld-grease.com
10 | 25 Years | BOSS Lubricants
Congratulations to BOSS Lubricants on 25 Years! We are proud to be a part of your success. “QUALITY WITHOUT COMPROMISE”
As a business owner, specializing in all types and sizes of trailers from utility to commercial trailers, I have been using BOSS lubricants for the past two years. I couldn’t be more satisfied than I am with the BOSS product line. My customers are the true testimony as they experience less wear and tear on their equipment, hence saving them in moving part replacement. The BOSS product line speaks for itself not only in reliability but in pricing too. I have found that the staff providing me with these products whether it be gear oil, hydraulic oil or grease are knowledgeable about the products and are able to make recommendations of which product is best suited for all applications. I highly recommend the BOSS line of products. ~ Fred Kenmuir, That’s Truck’n Repairs Inc.
The sports focus is no surprise considering Murray Flegel’s first career was on the ice, not in the business world. As a member of the Montreal Canadiens minor league, Murray played professional hockey for 10 seasons and was awarded the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Governor’s Trophy two years running as the top defenseman in the league. He has brought these two passions together in his Calgary office. Upstairs is more museum than workplace, as Murray has his incredible collection of hockey memorabilia displayed on the walls and in cases to share his passion with the staff. “After all, this is our home away from home. We spend more time at the office than at home,” says Jarrett.
ROGERS INSURANCE IS PROUD TO CONGRATULATE
ON 25 YEARS OF BUSINESS! rogersinsurance.ca
Machine Repairs, Machine Installs, Machine Moves, Conveyors, Air Lines Millenium would like to congratulate BOSS Lubricants for their 25 years in business! We look forward to a continued relationship with them for many more years to come.
Congratulations BOSS Lubricants on 25 years! Stewart Warner Alemite Canada 349 MacDonald Ave. Belleville,ON K8N 5B8 1-800-267-8022 stewartwarnercanada.com
We wish you many more years of continued success.
Thames River Chemical Corp. distributes chemical products in specialized markets across North America. As a member of Responsible Distribution Canada we value the protection of health, safety and environment and ethical business practices.
Thames River Chemical Corp. would like to thank BOSS Lubricants for 10 years of partnership and congratulations on your 25th Anniversary! May our relationship prosper and grow for many more years to come.
RR6 Site 4 Box 1, Calgary, AB T2M 4L5 • Phone: (403) 463-5551
Your Maintenance & Installation Problems Are Over!
5230 Harvester Road Burlington, Ontario L7L 4X4 Canada | T: 905-681-5353 www.trc-corp.com
BOSS Lubricants | 25 Years | 11
Murray and long time friend Gordie Howe.
But Murray may soon be spending more time south of the border than at the office. After devoting a quarter century building BOSS Lubricants, he’s beginning to plan for partial retirement. “I don’t know if my dad will ever let go fully. We’d like to see him spend more time down south with his friends because he’s earned it. He deserves it,” Jarrett concludes.
BOSS Lubricants - Calgary, AB 112-6303 30th Street SE Calgary Alberta T2C 1R4 Canada Tel: 403-279-2223 • Toll Free: 1-800-844-9457 • Fax: 403-279-2272 Email: info@BOSSlubricants.com www.BOSSlubricants.com
Chemical Products – Commodity and Specialty | Logistics and Regulatory Service | Custom Blending and Packaging - Liquid or Dry | Commitment to Health, Safety, and the Environment
Congratulations to BOSS Lubricants on 25 years! We wish you many years of continued success.
Box 619- #1 - 56 Avenue Thorsby Industrial Park Thorsby, Alberta T0C 2P0 Phone: (780) 984-0286 • www.archdistribution.com
12 | 25 Years | BOSS Lubricants